Hairpiece,scalp base therefor and method of making them

ABSTRACT

A piece of silk (blocked to head contour) is coated on its convex surface by a liquid neoprene solution to which a small amount of oil-base flesh-colored tint is added. One or two coats are applied and dried to provide a strong, resilient, natural, and waterproof scalp base. The neoprene coating provides a convenient means for making attachments to the scalp base. Hair is applied by any feasible method or by uniquely cementing neoprene tacked wefts of hair over the coated scalp base by application of additional neoprene solution. The coated and wefted scalp base is self-supporting. A coated scalp base having conventionally inserted hair has tape-supporting ribbons and a part-supporting strip secured over it under patches of the coated scalp base material cemented by the aforementioned coating solution. Part-forming hairs are inserted at a shallow angle into a neoprene part-supporting strip to form a permanent apart. A number of short burned hairs extend from the front edge of the scalp base under longer overlying hairs to provide a natural hairline. The scalp base is perforated to pass scalp oxidants through it either by inserted hairs or independent piercing.

Sept; 21, 1971 w SERVING 3,606,894

HAIRPIECE, SCALP BASE THEREFOR AND METHOD OF MAKING THEM Filed Feb. 17, 1969 United States Patent 01 ice 3,606,894 HAIRPIECE, SCALP BASE THEREFOR AND METHOD OF MAKING THEM James J. Servino, New Castle, Del. (12 S. Union St., Wilmington, Del. 19805) Filed Feb. 17, 1969, Ser. No. 799,654 Int. Cl. A41g 3/00 U.S. Cl. 13253 8 Claims ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE A piece of silk (blocked to head contour) is coated on its convex surface by a liquid neoprene solution to which a small amount of oil-base flesh-colored tint is added. One or two coats are applied and dried to provide a strong, resilient, natural, and waterproof scalp base. The neoprene coating provides a convenient means for making attachments to the scalp base. Hair is applied by any feasible method or by uniquely cementing neoprene tacked wefts of hair over the coated scalp base by application of additional neoprene solution. The coated and wefted scalp base is self-supporting. A coated scalp base having conventionally inserted hair has tape-supporting ribbons and a part-supporting strip secured over it under patches of the coated scalp base material cemented by the aforementioned coating solution. Part-forming hairs are inserted at a shallow angle into a neoprene part-supportingv strip to form a permanent part. A number of short burned hairs extend from the front edge of the scalp base under longer overlying hairs to provide a natural hairline. The scalp base is perforated to pass scalp exudants through it either by inserted hairs or independent piercing.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION A high quality hair-piece should be comfortable, strong, durable, waterproof, shape-retaining and long lasting and its scalp base should contribute to these properties as well as facilitating attachment of hair and auxiliary elements thereto. Presently existing hair pieces and their scalp bases do not satisfy all of these requirements. An object of this invention is therefore to provide a comfortable, strong and economical, durable and waterproof hairpiece having a corresponding scalp base, which facilitates the attachment of hair and auxiliary elements thereto.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION In accordance with this invention, the scalp base for a hairpiece is made by coating the convex surface of a thin flexible sheet (blocked to head contour) with a solution of an oil-resistant liquid elastomer and a trace of oil. When one or more of such coats are dried, the base is remarkably strong, durable and resilient. Hair is attached by insertion through or by cementing neoprene tacked wefts of hair to the coated scalp base by application of additional neoprene solution. Such a wefted scalp base is self-supporting. One having hair inserted through it has its auxiliary strips, such as tape-supporting ribbons and a part-supporting strip, secured to the top of the base under patches of coated scalp base material cemented to the convex top of the scalp base by the aforementioned coating solution. The hairs in the part section are inserted at shallow angles into the part-supporting strip to form a substantially permanent part. A natural hairline is provided by attaching a number of short hairs to the frontal edge of a scalp base and burning them, which makes them resemble natural wisps of hair at the hairline under the overlying longer hair. The scalp base is perforated to pass scalp exudants through it either by inserted hairs or independent piercing.

3,606,894 Patented Sept. 21, 1971 BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS Novel features and advantages of the present invention will become apparent to one skilled in the art from a reading of the following description in conjunction with the accompanying drawings wherein similar reference characters refer to similar parts and in which:

FIG. 1 is a three-dimensional pictorial view of a hairpiece, which is an embodiment of this invention, being worn by a man;

FIG. 2 is a side view in elevation of the scalp base shown in FIG. 1 with several of the wefts of hair (shown in FIG. 7) attached thereto;

FIG. 3 is a top plan view of the scalp base shown in FIG. 2;

FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view taken through FIG. 3 along the line 44;

FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional view taken through FIG. 3 along the line 55;

FIG. 6 is a plan view of an assembly of strands of hair used in making the unique wefts shown in FIG. 7; and

FIG. 7 is a plan view of a weft of hair made by the method shown in FIG. 6 and which is attached to a scalp base as shown in FIG. 2.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS In FIG. 1 is shown a man 10 wearing a hairpiece 12 which is extremely natural in appearance and also strong, durable, economical and water proof because it incorporates the various features of this invention. The natural appearance is enhanced by the substantially permanent part 14 and wisps 16 of short hair under the longer overlying frontal hairs 18 together with other advantages attributed by the novel scalp base, which are later described in detail.

In FIG. 2 is shown scalp base 20 made from a coated sheet of a thin, flexible material such as a woven textile fabric and more particularly silk. l0-XX gauge silk is particularly advantageous for scalp 'base 20. A sheet of silk is wet and blocked over a suitable manikin head in a conventional manner. Untreated silk has long been used to make scalp bases but it is unduly susceptible to damage from water or moisture, is not durable and loses shape. These problems are remarkably obviated by applying a solution of an oil-resistant elastomer mixed with trace amounts of oil over the blocked silk. The coating is then dried under a flow of hot air, such as from a common hairdryer. A second and third coat may then be applied after the first has dried, if required to impart sufficient body to the coating.

A suitable oil-resistant liquid elastomer may be a neoprene solution, such as a clear amber liquid neoprene. This solution is, for example, a suitable neoprene in a solvent such as acetone. Suitable neoprene latex solutions are described in Chapter 13 of Introduction to Rubber Technology, sponsored by the Rubber Division of the American Chemical Society, published by Reinhold Publishing Corporation, copyright 1959. The characteristics of such solutions are also described in Compounding Ingredients for Rubber, Third edition, 1961, published by The Cuneo Press of New England and compiled by the editors of Rubber World. A particularly effective, clear amber neoprene solution is sold by the Gates Engineering Division of The Glidden Company, Wilmington, Del., under the trademark GACO.

The trace amounts of oil are, for example, obtained by adding from approximately one part of oil base tint of flesh color, to fifty parts of elastomer solution to about one part of .oil base tint to one hundred and fifty parts of elastomer. The oil base tint is, for example, a conventional linseed oil base pigment.

The mixture is conveniently made by adding drops of each solution together. A particularly effective solution utilizes about one hundred drops of clear amber liquid neoprene to one drop of oil base tint. The oil additive imparts a remarkably natural flesh color to the top of the scalp base to which it is applied and makes it remarkably pliable yet preservative of the blocked form of the scalp base. Without it, the neoprene coating tends to draw the scalp base fiat, but otherwise is effective. The top of the scalp base is disposed remote from the wearers scalp, and its shiny surface is extremely natural in appearance. This leaves the interior side of the silk still relatively soft and absorbent thus making it extremely comfortable to wear. The resultant scalp base (shown in FIG. 2) has the appearance and feel of a tough, resilient piece of curved parchment.

Periphery 22 of scalp base 20 is trimmed in the desired pattern by customary fitting techniques to form the completed outline as shown in FIG. 2. It maintains its blocked shape to fit the head and is remarkably strong, waterproof, shape-resistant and resilient. The coated silk is also remarkably dye-resistant which permits the attached hair to be tinted and dyed at will without destroying the natural scalp color of the coated top of the scalp base. Scalp base 20 is so waterproof and durable that it does not shrink or distort upon washing or even when swimming in chlorine-laden swimming pools. It permanently holds its shape without any additional blocking.

Scalp exudants including oils and perspiration do not damage it. These scalp oils, in fact, unexpectedly maintain the resiliency of the scalp base by supplementing the original oil. This keeps the scalp base resiliently natural andstrong, thus enabling it to give and retract in a human manner. Its natural fit is also enhanced by body heat. It is'so strong and shape-retaining that no additional foundation or sheets of material are necessary to reinforce it. Inserted hairs 26 (as shown in FIG. 3) are permanently fastened to scalp base 20A (made the same as scalp base 20) by conventional methods such as insertion or weaving, with minimal tendency to retreat. They also pierce scalp base 20A to allow scalp exudants to pass through it, thus making it more comfortable to wear.

Hairpiece 12 may be shampooed at regular intervals, which is a rare advantage. No expensive drycleaning or maintenance is required. Hairpiece 12 is also remarkably durable and lasts for a number of years, which is as much as three and more times as long as conventional hairpieces. The aforementioned resiliency and perforability of the scalp base without reduction in strength makes hairpieces using this invention extremely comfortable as well-as relatively light in weight.

FIG. 3 shows the top of hairpiece 12 including scalp base 20A with the extending fringe of hair designated by phantom outline 24 and also by illustrated hair lines 26. Auxiliary strips of tape-supporting ribbon 28, 30- and 32 are attached to the coated top surface of scalp base 20A under patches 34, 36 and 38 of the same coated material from which scalp base 20A is made. Patches 34, 36 and 38 may be conveniently obtained by using excess sheet material trimmed from periphery 22 of scalp base 20A. They are adhered over ribbons 28, 30 and 32 and to the top of scalp base 20A by a suitable cement, such as the aforementioned neoprene coating solution. Ribbons 28, 30 and 32 are the same as those ordinarily used under scalp bases for supporting adhesive tapes for attaching the hairpiece to the head. The application of the ribbons on top of scalp base 20A uniquely simplifies the hairpiece and its method of manufacture.

Another auxiliary strip 40 of thin neoprene is secured under patch 42 to the parted area of hairpiece 12 in the same manner as ribbons 28, 30 and 32. Strip 40 is also firmly adhered to the top of scalp base 20A by the aforementioned neoprene solution. Part hairs 44 are inserted through patch 42 and neoprene strip 40 at shallow angles forming a permanent part. The part is so retentive that it does not become disarranged even after swimming. This is very remarkable and highly unique.

Natural wisps of hair =16 are attached to the frontal portion of hairpiece 12 and scalp base 20A by weaving or any suitable means to form a natural wispy roll. Hair wisps 16 are formed of short pieces of hair which are burned to give them the natural crinkly appearance of shorter hairs at the forehead underlying the long hairs combed over them. Burningis accomplished by any convenient means such as controlled combustion or by application of a strong chemical. Useful strong chemicals for burning are muriatic acid or concentrated permanent waving solution. The ultimate appearance obtained is so natural that it totally eliminates one of the telltale indications of artificial hair.

In FIG. 6 is shown a method of making wefts 46 of hair 26 which are easily attached to the coated top of scalp base 20 shown in FIG. 2. FIG. 6 accordingly shows a row of strands 26 of hair arranged on a release sheet 48 of polyethylene supported upon a flat base surface (not shown). Pressure sensitive tape 50 is applied across the central portions of hairs 26 to hold them aligned. Bands 52 of the aforementioned neoprene solution are painted over the root portions of hairs 26 extending from under the edges of tape 50. The neoprene solution is applied at a temperature of approximately F. to accelerate its setting up. After bands 52 of solution have fully dried, hairs 26 are slit adjacent the edges of tape 50 along cutting lines 54, thus providing a weft 46 of variable length. The ends of wefts 46 could also be tacked by dipping or any other suitable means.

FIG. 7 shows a smaller weft 46 separated from a longer weft made in the manner shown in FIG. 6. Each weft is tacked together by the thin band of neoprene solution 52, which is effective even though it is very limited in slze and inconspicuous.

In FIG. 2 a number of wefts 46 are attached to the coated top of scalp base 20 by applying thereto a thin spot 53 of the aforementioned neoprene solution and applying the neoprene banded end 52 of weft 46 to the wet neoprene spot. This application is also facilitated at temperatures of approximately 80 F. The ultimate hairpiece made by covering scalp base 20 with wefts 46 is remarkably selfsupporting and does not require ribbons, such as shown in FIG. 3, to strengthen the portions to which adhesive is applied for holding it upon the head of the wearer. This is true even though a large number of holes 56 are pierced through scalp base 20 to allow scalp oils and exudants to pass through it. A hairpiece made in this manner is therefore remarkably light and comfortable by virtue of its single sheet scalp base 20.

Even though the attachment of wefts 46 to scalp base 20 is completely inconspicuous, the ends of the hairs are permanently anchored to the scalp base 20. The bond is so strong that it approaches and sometimes exceeds the strength of the bonded materials themselves. These features provide an extremely natural, strong and durable hairpiece without the trouble and expense of inserting individual hairs through a scalp base. The reason for the extreme strength of the bond is not completely understood but it might be a result of the intimate neoprene bonds formed by the coated surface on scalp base 20, the tacked band 52 on wefts 46 and the final neoprene cement application thereto.

Despite its economy a hairpiece 12 made of wefts 46 has the advantage, over one with inserted hairs, of completely avoiding the problem of retreating of hair ends or loosening of knots. The part portion in a hairpiece made of wefts 46 may be formed by the wefts themselves because their fall may be arranged as desired, or a separate part piece 40 may be utilized in the manner shown in FIG. 3.

I claim:

1. A hairpiece comprising a curved scalp base, said scalp base incorporating a thin flexible sheet having a coating upon its convex side of an oil-resistant elastomer whereby said scalp base is made strong, resilient and waterproof, and a trace of oil being interspersed in said coating for improving the shape retention of said scalp base.

2. A hairpiece as set forth in claim 1 wherein said thin flexible sheet is silk.

3. A hairpiece as set forth in claim 1 in combination with a number of wefts of hair, said Wefts of hair each comprising a number of strands of hair having one end of each substantially aligned, an externally exposed band of dried solution of said oil-resistant elastomer tacking said substantially aligned ends together, said wefts having their banded ends adhesively attached to the convex side of said scalp base by said oil-resistant elastomer.

4. A hairpiece as set forth in claim 1 wherein said oil comprises an oil base tint and said oil-resistant elastorner is neoprene.

5. A hairpiece as set forth in claim 3 wherein said oil comprises an oil base tint.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 851,384 4/ 1907 Sleicher 132-53 941,744 11/ 1909 Tattoon 13253 1,040,425 10/ 1912 Samuel 132-53 1,199,144 9/1916 Zak 132.53

2,438,005 3/1948 Goldman 13253 FOREIGN PATENTS 888,757 2/ 1962 Great Britain 132-5 2 0 LOUIS G. MANCENE, Primary Examiner G. E. MCNEILL, Assistant Examiner 

